Madden Creative Director, Ian Cummings is Leaving Tiburon

[WakeUp]

Re: Ian Cummings is out

So, working less hours for more pay isn't a step up in the world. I guess people leave for better benefits nowadays.

Who says that's why he left? Ian? PastaPadre (a known EA shill) who Ian may have told that to? Ian also led people to believe that his "new" position last year was a higher one when in fact it was a demotion, but you're right we should just believe that leaving A TOP POSITION AT EA to make tiny Facebook games for a STARTUP is an automatic better opportunity, ignoring the known fact that startups usually don't pay much at the beginning if they even last at all, and people usually don't risk high salaries to go work for them but instead go work for them because they've either been fired or threatened with the possibility of being fired. Nope, nope, you're absolutely right.

By the way, I played Tennis with Superman last week. I won.

It wasn't rudeness on the camera, either, he mentioned he didn't like the camera.

Bologna. Absolute bologna. He was plenty enthusiastic for Madden 10 because he was a lead on that project (see the videos), and pretty dead for 11 because he wasn't anymore. Go back and watch namely the first few vids for 11. The videos don't lie and shill glasses certainly won't change anything either. I know you love the guy, but gimme a break man. He's gone now, there is no need to kiss the rings anymore.

Isn't this the same designer that was trying to arrange a podcast with the Youtube community. Go figure.

It was a few vid posters, Apex and Sim I believe. They declined because he'd been ignoring their requests for years and only after 11 was tanking in sales did he feel he needed to reach out. Then he went on the offensive when they declined and had the nerve to speak on Apex as if he didn't even know him when he in fact offered the man a job. Shows you his type of character. Go figure. But keep sticking up for him you're doing a wonderful job.

[Bgamer90]

Re: Ian Cummings is out

Somebody had to say it.

I just don't get how people can not say he has done nothing at all and/or has completely sucked.

I mean, don't get me wrong, Madden isn't where it should be IMO but he has definitely made Madden better and more enjoyable than how it previously was and added things that were more in tune with what the sim community wanted.

[RedZoneD25]

Re: Ian Cummings is out

No, nobody had to say that.

Ian Cummings worked his way up the company ladder at EA like anyone else in a corporate situation, and if I say so in his time as the lead guy for the Madden games he did a bang-up job making a fun video game.

It's simply the popular opinion on this forum to bash Madden and bash anyone associated with Madden at any given point in time, regardless of facts or respect for the opinions and feelings of anyone else.

It's what making these forums insufferable.

It's not about popular opinion, in my case. Yes, he made fun NFL games, but fact is the same things missing from when he got the Lead Designer title back in 09 are still missing from the game at the current time. Show me franchise depth and deep Superstar mode...Show me the initiative to do more than Play Now. It's not about him doing a BAD job, it's just that nothing has really changed outside of improved gameplay and new menus/fonts. That said, I'm still interested in Madden 12, just as I'll be interested in 13.

[TheShizNo1]

Re: Ian Cummings is out

Was Ian the one that worked on HC09?

[TheShizNo1]

Re: Ian Cummings is out

It's not about popular opinion, in my case. Yes, he made fun NFL games, but fact is the same things missing from when he got the Lead Designer title back in 09 are still missing from the game at the current time. Show me franchise depth and deep Superstar mode...Show me the initiative to do more than Play Now. It's not about him doing a BAD job, it's just that nothing has really changed outside of improved gameplay and new menus/fonts. That said, I'm still interested in Madden 12, just as I'll be interested in 13.

Agree 100%............except the last sentence...so I guess that makes it like 99 %.....or 90%......

[GiantBlue76]

Re: Ian Cummings is out

No, nobody had to say that.

Ian Cummings worked his way up the company ladder at EA like anyone else in a corporate situation, and if I say so in his time as the lead guy for the Madden games he did a bang-up job making a fun video game.

It's simply the popular opinion on this forum to bash Madden and bash anyone associated with Madden at any given point in time, regardless of facts or respect for the opinions and feelings of anyone else.

It's what making these forums insufferable.

No it isn't. The majority of people do not subscribe to this. What good would it be to hate/bash Madden just to do so? Most people on here are not 10 year olds. However, many folks are just realists. They call it like they see it, that includes the good with the bad. There are plenty of folks who would rather convince themselves that the game is something it isn't so they feel better. The fact is that Madden is still light years behind the other sports games. Many things that have been broken for years are still completely broken, and anything new that was added was simply left incomplete and unpolished.

As far as Ian leaving, he's a nice guy, he is a hard worker and there is no doubt he wanted to make Madden better. That being said, you guys realize he was part of the Madden team all during next gen. Some of his blogs and videos from 2007 are repeated in his blogs from 2009 and 2010. It is what it is. He doesn't owe anyone anything either, he is moving to a better job to better his life. Good luck to him.

[RGiles36]

Re: Ian Cummings is out

Also, I don't accurately know how things here on OS were when David Ortiz was the producer of Madden but it seems to me like people criticized Ian more than David (during Madden 06-09). While Ian handled things better than I would have, I'm pretty sure it got to him. Working 80-100 hours weeks just to get called "lazy" can't be fun. It did obviously ruin the amount of communication we use to have with him here on OS. That communication though did make ones use Ian as a scapegoat for certain things.

I can't speak to that as well, as I didn't come here prior to Jan 08 I believe. And while the forums were on fire with justified harsh criticism during that time, I don't think the criticism for Ortiz was ever as personal as it was for Ian. That kind of came with the territory with trying to be buddy-buddy with a disgruntled fanbase I guess.

[Hooe]

Re: Ian Cummings is out

It's not about popular opinion, in my case. Yes, he made fun NFL games, but fact is the same things missing from when he got the Lead Designer title back in 09 are still missing from the game at the current time. Show me franchise depth and deep Superstar mode...Show me the initiative to do more than Play Now. It's not about him doing a BAD job, it's just that nothing has really changed outside of improved gameplay and new menus/fonts. That said, I'm still interested in Madden 12, just as I'll be interested in 13.

A fair point. I think an argument can be made that the football part of a football game is the most important part of it, thus the focus. That said, I'd be lying if I were to argue that Franchise / Superstar modes do not matter.

[RedZoneD25]

Re: Ian Cummings is out

Agree 100%............except the last sentence...so I guess that makes it like 99 %.....or 90%......

Well, obviously you want to enjoy Madden. You wouldn't be here if you didn't. I mean I'll be interested in following the game, not necessarily buy it.

[RGiles36]

Re: Ian Cummings is out

I'm sorry; I don't believe you. To this day, people blame Ortiz when trying to cut Ian some slack.

You must've missed the thread just a couple months ago where videos were made saying how good of a game M08 was.

[Hooe]

Re: Ian Cummings is out

Was Ian the one that worked on HC09?

I think the brains behind the off-field stuff in that game was Josh Looman. Again, feel free to check that.

[RedZoneD25]

Re: Ian Cummings is out

I think the brains behind the off-field stuff in that game was Josh Looman. Again, feel free to check that.

No, you're right. Josh Looman and Donny Moore were HC09.

[Garrett67]

Re: Ian Cummings is out

Regardless of who is at the helm, the game needs to improve. EA is in business to make money and as long as the same people buy the game every year just because it has a new date added to the title, they won't need to change much.

I know some employees care and want to produce the best product but sadly, they're not the decision makers and not always does their vision shine through to the finished product.

I will say I'm just as guilty as anybody. I have bought EVERY Madden game that has been released since the first one, just because that is what I do when Madden comes out.

Every year, I hope THIS is it! But think about it, it will never be IT... how could it be IT? Then what?

[TheShizNo1]

Re: Ian Cummings is out

No, you're right. Josh Looman and Donny Moore were HC09.

They should be given free reigns over Madden's franchise mode. HC09 is one of those games I refuse to sell. The off-season mode in that game was like no other for a football game

[LiquorLogic]

Re: Ian Cummings is out

...and look at Madden. Perhaps they should start hiring people with degrees and knowledge instead of hiring internet forum posters because they are suck asses.

Sorry but its true.

Tell me about it. You would think, with something as technical as developing video games, that you'd need a degree in a related field, or at least some sort of experience that demonstrates your competency. EA is a huge company, and Madden is it's flagship title. You would think a degree in a related field is a given, and that it would be impossible to get your foot in the door as a game tester. Maybe those people, with degrees and/or experience, command higher salaries, and it's kinda hard to pay top dollar when you've already committed to spending over a half a billion dollars on licensing fees.